University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Notes
8/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 29, 2007
Houston - With just three days before its season-opening game, thunderstorms forced the University of Houston football team to practice inside the Yeoman Field House Wednesday afternoon as the Cougars worked out in shorts and pads for nearly two hours in preparations for their season-opening game at Oregon this Saturday.
Even though UH was forced to practice indoors, head coach Art Briles has been pleased with his team's effort and intensity.
"The intensity has picked up in practice this week, and we had a good, crisp practice with a lot of energy today" Briles said. "It wasn't a big deal (to go inside rather than practice outdoors) because we have doing preparing for this game since August 1. So, it wasn't like we had to stress about having to prepare in a hurry during a short game week.
"Moving inside was good for our players because they had a good environment in which they didn't have to worry about a wet field or wet football."
Houston's game at Oregon will also answer a few questions for Briles and his staff as they watch how the Cougars react to their first game of the season.
"There are going to be a lot of firsts out there for us," Briles added. "There are first game-type situations, first game type performances, etc.
"As a coach, you think you know what is going to happen, but you don't really until your team goes out there on the field. It will be interesting see how our guys respond, and I feel very confident in the people who will be on the field."
One of Houston's biggest questions will be which quarterback on this year's roster will make their first collegiate start. Briles has not had to answer that question since his first game at Houston because Kevin Kolb started every game for the Cougars from 2003-06.
Sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum have battled throughout preseason practice for the starting nod, and Briles has not announced his starter. He also anticipates both quarterbacks playing.
"They have had the same amount of practice time, and I anticipate both playing in the first three or four games," Briles said. "We will just have to wait and see who is more productive on the field."
Saturday's game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and Cougar fans can hear the action live on AM790 the Sports Animal. Tom Franklin calls the play-by-play action, David Klingler provides color analysis and Chuck Brown reports from the sideline. The pre-game show begins one hour before kickoff.
